CHICAGO (April 9, 2015) — The Chicago Fire Soccer Club is set to host the fifth annual Practice in the Community, presented by the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health), at Gary and Ortiz Elementary School (3470 West 31st Street, Chicago, Ill.) on Saturday, April 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Following the Fire’s first team training, the event will showcase a practice with our Premier Skills team, an after-school sports development program.
The first team will engage in a practice session open to the general public, allowing supporters and members of the local community a chance to see the squad train up close and personal. The event will also feature complimentary food, music, giveaways and interactive games. Attendees will get an opportunity to collect autographs and interact with Fire players and coaches.
• VIDEO: 2014 PRACTICE IN THE COMMUNITY
“We’re excited for the first team to return to Little Village and showcase the Fire Foundation’s involvement with the Premier Skills program,” said Chicago Fire Chief Operating Officer Atul Khosla. “It’s a great opportunity for the Club to engage the soccer community in Chicago and inspire our fanbase. Under owner Andrew Hauptman’s leadership and through the Chicago Fire Foundation we are committed to creating sports-based youth development opportunities for children and families in Chicago. With Premier Skills we have a comprehensive presence in the neighborhood all year to do just that.”
UI Health will be on site with Get Covered Illinois bilingual counselors helping fans sign up for health insurance enrollment and providing further information. UI Health nurses will also be on site to provide stroke education and BMI (body mass index) screenings.
Originally launched in 2007, Premier Skills is a global partnership between the Premier League and the British Council which uses the powerful brand and expertise of the Premier League and the global reach of the British Council to help marginalized youth develop skills and tackle a variety of social issues, such as social and emotional development, health, education, disability and inclusion. The program also works with young people to decrease anti-social behavior and gang-related violence.
Premier Skills launched in the Little Village community in July 2014 as the first North American site for the program. Since its launch, it has provided over 250 youth aged 8 through 18 with a safe, healthy environment and allow them to build the confidence, aspirations and skills to develop into productive young adults. For the program’s extension in Little Village, the Fire teamed up with the British Council, English Premier League, Beyond the Ball, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, World Sport Chicago and the Chicago Park District.
For more information on Practice in the Community, please visit www.chicago-fire.com/practice.
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